Bug Inc. Paper

BUG, Inc. designs, manufacturers, and sells recording devices that are used by law enforcement agencies to intercept and record sounds and voices. BUG employees write the software that supports BUG. BUG currently ha exclusive contracts with most state and federal law enforcement agencies within the United States. BUG is considering expanding its marketplace to an international level; the manufacturing plants are split between foreign countries and the United States.

Intellectual PropertyPatents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and names are intellectual property rights. Federal and states laws have been established in order to protect company’s assets from misappropriation and infringement (Cheeseman, 2004, pg. 323). Patents were created to protect inventors when making their inventions public and to protect patent inventions from infringement (Cheeseman, 2004, pg. 324). Established patents are not only recognized by the United States’ federal government, but by international trade organizations like World Trade Organization (Cheeseman, 2004, pg. 327). The Copyright Revision Act of 1976 protects copyrighted works from infringement (Cheeseman, 2004, pg.

Taliaferro, Lt. Walter

Walter Winans [with Mt. Sheep head trophies] (LOC...

Taliaferro, Lt. Walter

332). Trademarks and logos are equally important to BUG, and they have established a logo that is used to identify the company with the different types of products with this symbol ® (Cheeseman, 2004, pg. 341), such as a ladybug wearing a set of headphones which is the company’s logo. Trademarks protect the owner's investments and goodwill in a mark. This prevents consumers from being confused as to the origin of goods and services.

WIRETAPEmployees and businesses are expected, and most often required, to conduct themselves ethically. Much of the law is based on ethical standards and the responsibilities set forth for business and its employees. When and if an employee is put into a situation in which they are led to question their duties and/or actions, this should then lead the individual to question the ethical...